Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Basic Questions with Annotations by Renowned Scholars (Selected Commentaries on the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Basic Questions)

Author: Zhang Yinan (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: August 1, 2002
Features: The Suwen (Basic Questions) was composed by the Yellow Emperor and his ministers such as Yu Fu, Wu Peng, and others, discussing and arranging it in one hall. It elaborates on the fundamental principle of unity between heaven and humanity; clarifies the mechanisms of the alternation of yin and yang; studies the subtle changes in the movement of qi; examines the essence of nurturing life and subduing disease; explores the extremes of the cycles of cold and heat, the sun and moon; and delves into the successes and failures of the generation and transformation of form and qi. It is comprehensive and nearly exhaustive. However, the discussion of the continuity of life occupies half of it, the discussion of disasters and diseases comes next, and the treatment methods are discussed last. It is intended that all descendants and common people in the world may avoid disasters and calamities, and all return to growth—how sublime is the sage's teaching!
However, the meaning of the classics is profound and subtle, and the sage's words are ancient and concise. Without the right person, it is rare for anyone to understand its meaning. For example, the Yue Ren of the Zhou Dynasty, the Cang Gong of the Han Dynasty, the Huangfu Mi of the Jin Dynasty, the Wang Qixuan of the Tang Dynasty, as well as the renowned scholars of the Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties, all discussed and explained it, yet none agreed. Those who summarized the essence of the classics sought it from one angle; those who analyzed the classics in detail interpreted it with partial understanding. Some passages in the classics are clear in one context but obscure in another, perhaps due to the brevity or omission of the original text, leaving out its profound arguments.
Master Yinan concentrated his mind and energy, exerting great effort in deep thought. After five years of enduring cold and heat, he annotated the nine volumes of Suwen from the Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), drawing on the essence of Huangdi and Qi, avoiding the words and thoughts of predecessors, discarding the dregs of ancient arguments, and engaging in deep study with his fellow student Gao Liang. The disciples who followed him were then engaged in proofreading, and it was titled Collected Annotations. What has already been said does not need further repetition—only what has not been mentioned should be urgently stated for the benefit of future learners. This is the subtle meaning of Master Yinan's annotations on the classics.